“A minute ago this was the safest
job in the world. Now it's turning into a bad day in Bosnia.”

Film ***1/2

If you take Quentin Tarantino and mix in a little English
flavor, you’d end up with an equally inventive filmmaker named Guy Ritchie. Just
like QT accomplished with Reservoir Dogs, Ritchie delivered quite an
impressive impact with his first film, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels.
The filmwas definitive proof that the influence of Tarantino had not
only effected American cinema, but that of the overseas independent market. But
Ritchie shouldn’t be labeled as a Tarantino wannabe, as he carries a filmmaking
style all of his own.

The film carries the trademark film qualities pioneered by
films such as Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs; violence mixed with
insightfully witty humor centering around a group of underworld lowlives. If one
is quick to label this the Pulp Fiction of Great Britain, they should be
cautious. Ritchie’s film is told in the standard narrative method, though the
plot is one of the most extensively complex ones ever written, and I’m very
certain that the film would be even more complicated had the non-chronological
format been applied.

The plot centers around a young Brit named Eddy (Nick
Moran), a hotshot poker player. Though he’s admitted to giving up gambling to
his father, JD (Sting), Eddy is actually about to take part in the biggest poker
challenge of his life. His friends have scrapped together their individual life
savings and place it in Eddy’s hands in the hopes of scoring a big payback in
the high stakes game run by underworld boss “Hatchet” Harry (P.H. Moriarty).

The game, which turns out to be a rigged one, lands Eddy in
an enormous amount of debt. He and his friends are now in Harry’s pocket for
half a million pounds. One option would be for Eddy’s father to sell his pub,
but he won’t step in to help on account that Eddy lied about breaking his
gambling habit. It would only take a bizarre act of fate to save Eddy and his
pals.

And wouldn’t you know it…that’s exactly what happens.

It turns out, Eddy eavesdrops on his neighbor and discovers
a plot to rob a rich drug dealer. It also turns out that at the same time,”
Hatchet” Harry has ordered two dimwitted thieves to heist two priceless antique
shotguns. Through an act of sheer luck, Eddy and his friends come into
possession of both the stolen drug money and the heisted guns. Sounds like their
troubles are over…

But nothing could be further from the truth. Before long,
the pressuring debt-collector is the least of their worries. Numerous other
individuals get caught up in the mix, including some public school "chemists", a
psychotic hash-baron, a drug kingpin, a lethal enforcer of “Hatchet” Harry’s
named Big Chris and a large arsenal of guns and knives. It goes without saying
that an extreme level of bloodshed is to be expected.

And although the film didn’t really jump start many big
careers for the then unknown cast, two actors have gone on to bigger and better
things. That was very much the case with Jason Statham, who plays one of Eddy’s
associates, Bacon. The charismatic Statham has now become a recognizable face
thanks to his follow up roles in The Italian Job, Crank and The
Transporter franchise. And Vinnie Jones, who plays Big Chris, has made his
presence felt in such films as Gone in 60 Seconds, Swordfish and most
recently as Juggernaut in X-Men: The Last Stand.

As for Ritchie, he managed to make a follow up film that
was even greater, 2000’s Snatch. Since then, his highly publicized
marriage to Madonna seems to have overshadowed his filmmaking. And after the
disaster of his last film, the super awful Swept Away which he should’ve
never stepped anywhere near, let’s hope that Mr. Ritchie returns to his roots
and makes another kick ass ride of a film.

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels remains a fun,
witty and violent trip through London’s underground. Let’s face it, before then
England had never looked more gangsta. Lock, load and enjoy!

Video **

I remember seeing the film when it first hit DVD a mere
seven years ago and wondered if the handlers of the video performance messed up
the presentation. Now after seeing it on this new released edition, it’s clearly
the film stock where the problems lay. Filmed in a most independent way (on 16mm
and blown up to 35mm), the given film qualities simply can’t add up to a
masterful presentation. Though there are no horrific video flaws in the
anamorphic picture, far too many scenes appear soft and washed out. It doesn’t
take much out of the enjoyment of the film, but all I can say is don’t expect a
remarkable look.

Audio ***1/2

The 5.1 mix gets the senses jolting, thanks to a red hot
soundtrack, consisting of an original lineup knockout soul classics and rock
joints (Ricthie, like Tarantino, knows how to assemble a unique music lineup.
That, along with the explosive violence that accompanies the last half of the
film adds up to an outstanding listen. Dialogue is nice and clear as well, but
don’t be surprised if you have to switch on your subtitles to understand some
it. What can I say? Not all of us are schooled in Cockney.

Features *1/2

I felt gun-downed when I saw the nearly empty barrel on
this new “Locked ‘N Loaded Directors Cut” release. All that is included is a
brief featurette titled “One Smoking Camera” and a minute and a half compilation
of all the F-bombs used in the film. Would’ve liked to have seen a commentary
track, as well as so much more, included.

Summary:

Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels delivers enough
gun blazing, finger chopping, knife throwing, and additional craziness for two
movies, if not more than that. Credit must go Guy Ritchie’s way for bringing
pulp cinema to the British film market and incorporating something different
than the countless Tarantino imitators.